Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.
A/N: Thanks to SingularityStar, who beta this story for me.
Chapter Twenty-Five
The Wandmaker
Ron and Hermione found Harry in a bedroom, and he was bowing his head as he cradled his right hand.
"Harry," Hermione said softly, but Harry didn't make any signs that he noticed her. She looked up at Ron, not quite sure how to proceed. He shrugged, and then went to sit next to Harry, not saying a word at all, just sitting there. Hermione sighed and sat on Harry's other side.
When she sat down, Hermione realized that Harry's knuckles were a little bloody (he must have punched the wall again), and she took his hand and wrapped it in some cloth, wishing she could do more for him, but she didn't know how. Harry looked at her then, opening his mouth to say something, but he looked unable to form words, but he knew she understood. They stayed like that for a long time in silence, not knowing what to say, but the quiet wasn't uncomfortable.
When Ron suddenly got up and then moved to Hermione side, pulling her into his arms, she could feel him shiver. She sighed, knowing that what they had heard was very hard on Ron, too. She wondered why she wasn't more affected by this, but she supposed that she had enough to deal with taking care of her boys … besides this didn't really happen.
"Sorry … I just needed …" Ron said in a voice that sounded very odd in this silent room.
"I understand," Harry interrupted, looking away from them, a painful expression on his face.
"Harry …" Hermione tried again.
"He came to save us," Harry said in a very thick voice. "He came to save me … and he died for me."
"He hasn't died Harry … not yet, and not ever if we can help it," Hermione said.
"I know that," Harry said. "But … it just makes me so … angry that everyone is dying for me … or because of me … My parents … Cedric … probably Sirius and Dumbledore … Mad-eye … and now … D-dobby … it's all my fault!"
"Well, that must mean that you're quite the bloke," Ron said, he seemed to be doing a lot better now that he was holding Hermione.
Harry looked at him incredulously. "Do you think I would want any of them …!"
"No!" Ron said firmly. "But I know that you would have done the same thing for any of them … even Dobby … you would have gladly been the first wizard in known history that would have died for an elf."
Harry blinked at him, taken off guard by this line of argument.
"I know you didn't ask for this mate, but none of this is really your fault," Ron said.
"This was … I'm the reason why we were in danger," Harry said dejectedly, again not able to look at them. "I'm the reason why Hermione was tortured …."
"No, you weren't," Hermione said firmly too. "You made a mistake … but that doesn't mean you're responsible for everything that happened. Besides, I would rather be the one that is tortured …."
"Don't say that!" Harry said so suddenly and with so much force that it made both Ron and Hermione jump. "You don't know … you can't know … it's so much worse than anything you could imagine before you feel it. I never wanted you to go through that!"
"And you think that I would feel any differently if you took my place," Hermione said just as hotly as Harry had, she then turned to Ron and added, "either of you."
"No," they both said, but she could see that they were thinking the same thing, they would have gladly done it anyway.
"But seeing as it was my fault …" Harry started to say.
"We never would have gotten out of the Manner if you weren't in the cellar," Ron pointed out.
"You mean if D-dobby didn't come … just so he could died!" Harry corrected coldly.
"Yes," Ron said gravely. "We would all have been killed instead. You … me … Hermione, none of us would have made it out of there alive!"
Harry shuddered violently at that and at the truth that was behind the words. He couldn't stand the thought of either Ron or Hermione … not to mention both … dying. It was too painful, and he feared that more than anything else. They were so close to him! They would do anything for him! He was constantly putting them in danger! And they would never let him pull away from them, even if they knew it was safer for them … they would never abandon him!
He was grateful, but so worried that he would lose one of them … or both … and that was something he knew he would never recover from.
"Harry," Hermione said softly and pulled him into a hug, and he felt himself relaxing. They stayed like this, Hermione hugging Harry, Ron hugging her, until Ginny came to the room and asked if they were ready to read yet.
"I suppose I'm as ready as I'll ever be," Harry said getting up.
"Just give us a few minutes," Ron said, and Harry and Ginny left the room.
"Ron … what …?" Hermione started to say but Ron leaned down and captured her lips in a breathtaking but also desperate kiss.
"Sorry … I've just needed to do that for a long time," Ron said, trying to catch his breath.
"I understand," Hermione said, just as breathless, as she leaned her head on his chest. "But I really think we should join the others."
When they got out to the room where they had been reading in, everyone was there waiting for them. There were a few sandwiches on the table in front of the couch they sat in (Ron took a few of them immediately) and Severus was holding the book.
"I supposed this means we're all ready," Severus said and when no one objected he read, "The Wandmaker."
Mentions it was like sinking into an old nightmare, he knelt beside Dumbledore's body:
"Are you really comparing a house elf death to Dumbledore's?!" Draco couldn't stop himself from asking, despite the fact that he was warned not to say anything about this.
"Dobby was … is … my friend!" Harry said thickly.
Mentions that Harry called for Dobby, but the elf had gone where he could not call him back:
Harry frowned as he rubbed the cloth on his right hand, it was so much harder hearing his book self's reaction … the pure grief of it.
Mentions Voldemort punishing those they had left behind at Malfoy Manor:
"Good," Ron said bitterly.
Severus, however, gave Draco a pitying look, knowing the boy would be feeling the Dark Lord's wrath too. Draco seemed to have realized this as well, as he looked very pale.
Harry says I want to do it properly, not by magic, have you got a spade:
"You're going to dig a grave for him?" several people muttered softly, it was just such a shocking thing to do.
"Why not?" Harry said, looking at everyone defiantly. "Dobby deserves a proper burial as much as anyone!"
"We know, dear," Molly said kindly, her eyes were red, and Harry realized that she must have been crying during the time that he was in the other room with Ron and Hermione.
"It's just … I don't think a house elf has ever been buried before," Remus said.
Mentions that Voldemort had not been able to possess Harry while Harry was consumed with grief for Sirius:
Harry couldn't help but shudder at this, just the thought of Sirius being gone … especially now that he was already grieving in part for Dobby … was unbearable.
Sirius, However, was paling at the fact that Harry must have been close to Voldemort when he had died … he hated the thought of Harry being anywhere near that monster.
Mentions grief, it seemed, drove Voldemort out, though Dumbledore would have said that it was love:
"It is love, Harry," Dumbledore said softly, impressed and pleased that Harry had figured this out for himself. "Or at least it's caused by love."
Mentions Harry's thoughts Hallow, Horcruxes, … yet no longer burned with obsessive longing:
"That's good," Remus said, thinking that Harry's obsession with the Hallows wasn't healthy for the boy.
Mentions he knew where Voldemort was and whom he had killed in the cell:
"It must have been Grindlewald," Sirius said, slapping his head as if this should have been obvious.
"Are you just reaching that conclusion now Black!" Severus sneered lightly.
"Forgive me if I …."
"That's enough," Dumbledore said softly, his expression sad and they remembered that he was actually friends (and then enemies) with Grindlewald. Severus just started reading again.
Mentions Dumbledore had foreseen that, how much more had he known:
"Well not that exactly," Dumbledore said sadly.
"What did you foresee then?" Sirius questioned, trying not to think of how Wormtail had actually died.
"I knew that Harry had spared his life and that something like that doesn't just go away," Dumbledore said simply.
Harry asks How's Hermione and Ron says better, Fleur's looking after her:
Ron sighed, knowing that he would not have wanted to leave Hermione, not after everything that happened, but he would want to pay his respect to Dobby as well.
Molly on the other hand was giving Fleur an appreciating look for taking care of the girl that was really starting to feel like another daughter to her.
Mentions that Harry wrapped the elf in his jacket and Ron took off his shoes and socks and placed them on the elf's bare feet:
"Thanks Ron … he … he would have appreciated that," Harry said trying not to break down again, but he knew how much Dobby loved socks … he could picture the elf's face light up at the thought of getting them.
Ginny silently took his hand then and gave it a supportive squeeze.
Mentions that Hermione was there, pale and unsteady on her feet:
"Oh dear, you really shouldn't be walking now," Molly fretted motherly.
"I had to be there," Hermione said firmly, it didn't matter if she was in pain, or weak, she would hate not being there for this.
"She's right," Ron said gravely, putting his arm around her.
Mentions Ron put an arm around her when she reached him:
"Hey Ronniekin … you're holding her … do you think you two have finally taken the clue," Fred said, hoping that Ron would take it as a joke as he had intended.
"Fred, now's not the time to joke!" Molly glared at him.
"Sorry," Fred sighed as he noticed several other people glaring at him.
Harry remembers Dumbledore's funeral and thinks that Dobby deserved just as grand a funeral, and yet he laid between bushes in a roughly dug hole:
"Hm... I was just thinking that I would have rather had Dobby's funeral," Dumbledore said kindly, "surrounded only by those who loved him..."
Luna says thanks you so much Dobby for rescuing me from that cellar, it's so unfair that you had to die when you were so good and brave …:
Harry closed his eyes when Luna had started talking, and though the words made him sad, it was also nice in a way, too.
Ron says yeah, thanks Dobby:
"What a lovely speech Ron," George said.
"Give me a break …" Ron grumbled, he never liked being put on the spot and he was sure he would have liked it even less in that moment when he was worried and grieving.
Mentions leaving Harry alone beside the elf:
"Hm … you left me alone then, why did you feel the need to follow me in this time," Harry asked looking at his friends. Ron just nodded his head towards Hermione, causing her to roll her eyes.
"I just felt that you needed us," Hermione explained. "Was I wrong?"
"No …" Harry sighed.
Mentions Harry had two wands and he had wrenched them out of someone's hand, and he selected the shorter, which felt friendlier in his hand:
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow at that knowing that this meant that Harry had won the allegiance of that wand, and it would work properly for him … though not as well as his old wand had.
Draco on the other hand had the feeling that it was his wand that Harry was talking about and all he could think was, get you sticking hands off my wand.
Mentions that slowly Harry cut upon the rock, knowing Hermione could have done better but he wanted to mark the spot:
"Don't you think Dobby deserves more than your sloppiness," George questioned.
"I think Dobby would have been touched by Harry being the one to do this for him," Ginny said, glaring at her brother.
Mentions Harry didn't want to drop mud on the carpet:
"I don't think we would have minded Harry," Fleur said to him kindly, "but it is nice to hear that you are so considerate even … now …" she finished sadly, Ginny had informed her before the start of this chapter that Dobby was the one that had helped Harry get through the second tasked. It made it even sadder for her to hear about what had happened to the elf that had a hand in saving her sister.
Bill says lucky that Ginny's on holiday, if she was at Hogwarts, we wouldn't have reached her, now we know she's safe too:
Several people gasped and Molly whimpered. They had not thought of what might of happened to Ginny if she was still in Hogwarts at this time, but they knew now that wouldn't have been a good thing. Harry groaned and bowed his head. There's one more person that he could of gotten hurt because of his mistake.
"Ow," Harry groaned when he felt a sharp blow (though not too painful, it was just surprising) to the back of his head.
"Don't be such a drama queen Harry, nothing happened to me," Ginny said rolling her eyes.
"I'll try to remember that," Harry almost smiled at her.
"You tell him Ginny," Sirius said, laughing and just happy that she seemed to snap Harry out of his growing depression.
Bill says I've been getting them all out of the Burrow, moved them to Muriel's:
"Oh, dear sweet Merlin, no!" Fred said. "What the hell did we do to you to deserve that?!"
"Fredrick Weasley, watch your language!" Molly said. "And it's not a punishment, Aunt Muriel is obviously helping us when we need protection, so show her some respect."
"Come on Mum, not even you could want to actually live with Auntie Muriel," George said.
"Be that as it may, I would rather my family be safe!" Molly said hotly.
"Calm down Molly, dear," Arthur said, shooting a look telling the twins not to say anything else, their mum didn't need any more rallying up. "We are safe … all of us are alright, you don't need to worry."
"I know, I know," Molly said shivering in Arthur's arms but she couldn't help but think about the what ifs.
Bill says the Death Eaters know Ron's with you now, they're bound to target the family:
Harry and Ron both groaned at that.
"Don't worry boys," Arthur said to them in the same soothing tone he had used on Molly. "We are okay and so are you and that's all that really matters."
Bill says don't apologize, it was always a matter of time, we're the biggest blood traitor family there is:
"And there's that too," Arthur said looking almost amused and definitely proud about that.
Bill says once Ollivander and Griphook are well enough, we'll move them to Muriel's too, there not much room here, but she's got plenty:
"Still … it is rather cruel of you to make them live through that," George muttered.
"But it would at least give you guys more people to buffer her insults," Charlie said, thanking Merlin that he did still live out of the country, and he didn't have to be with them … well, at least not at Muriel's.
Harry says no, I need both of them here, I need to talk to them:
"I do?" Harry said puzzled, but everyone that was in the room before wasn't... or at least not as puzzled as Harry was.
"Yes Harry, I think you will find that talking to both of them will be very useful to you," Dumbledore said.
"Really … both … I thought that …" Sirius started to say but Severus interrupted him by reading.
Mentions Harry heard the authority in his own voice, the conviction and sense of purpose that had come to him as he dug Dobby's grave:
Dumbledore smiled at this, glad to see that Harry was reacting this way … that he figured out what he must do.
Ron and Hermione were looking at Harry oddly, for they didn't really know what the book Harry had in mind either, but they realized that whatever it was, it was something important.
Harry says I'll need to see them, straight away:
Bill grimaced at this, he wasn't sure how he felt … or was going to feel … about a boy almost ten years younger than him ordering him around like that. He probably wouldn't like it much at all … but he conceded that there was something about Harry that would make him listen, even if he didn't like it.
Mentions Harry knew what he seen, a piercing blue eye had looked out of the mirror, and help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it:
"Harry … you're not at Hogwarts!" Fred informed him. "And do you think it was Dumbledore … that sent Dobby?"
"It seems that way," Harry frowned, that didn't seem so likely to the Harry in the room, but he couldn't really think of another explanation.
"And I believe that he would be right in thinking that Dumbledore had sent Dobby," Dumbledore said almost looking amused, "it just wasn't me."
"What do …?" Harry started.
"You think it was Aberworth," McGonagall sighed, that made sense, but still he wasn't known to get this involved with things.
"I think he's taken a liking to Harry after the meeting in the Hogshead," Dumbledore smiled. "He called Harry a fool for rallying up a number of students to fight with him."
"Your brother was there … Harry started.
"He's the barman," Hermione said, she knew he had kind of looked familiar.
"Yes," Dumbledore said.
"No wonder it smelled like goats in there," Fred commented, which had several people snorting, knowing of Aberworth fondness of goats.
Mentions Harry understood and yet didn't understand, his instinct was telling him one thing, his brain another:
"Listen to your instinct Potter, I doubt your brains would do you any good," Severus said.
Sirius growled at that, and several people glared at him.
"I was actually going to say the same thing," Remus sighed, "well, not the part about your brains … but I think you should trust your instincts."
Mentions the Dumbledore in Harry's head smiled, surveying Harry over the tips of his fingers, pressed together as if in prayer:
Dumbledore chuckled at that, and a few people joined him, it was just an odd image.
"I have faith that you will make the right choice," he then said.
Harry this you gave Ron the Deluminator, you understood him, you gave him a way back:
Ron grimaced at that, and Hermione rubbed his arm supportively.
Mentions you understood Wormtail too, you knew there was a bit of regret there, somewhere:
"Just the tinies bit," Sirius huffed, it would have been much easier for him if Wormtail didn't show that bit … then there wouldn't be the bit of grief in him for the friend that he has lost long before this death.
Harry thinks maybe he was meant to know but not seek, is that why you made it so difficult, so I'd have time to work that out:
"Indeed … I believe that you are right in this concern," Dumbledore said.
"I think it would have just been easier if you told me this than … tell me that you didn't want me to have them from the start," Harry grumbled to himself.
Mentions a vision flashed of a building he knew extremely well:
Dumbledore sighed, and everyone looked at him, no hopes he would answer their questioning looks but still wondering where Voldemort was and why it looked familiar to Harry. Molly felt a little fear go through her thinking about Voldemort going to the Burrow … she didn't think she could handle it if her house was destroyed, even if her family was safe.
Bill asks Harry, what the hell's going on:
Bill chuckled; no he really wasn't going to like taking orders from Harry.
Everyone looked at him oddly, finding it weird that he would laugh at this, but he just shrugged.
Bill says you turn up here dead house-elf, half conscious goblin, Hermione's been tortured and Ron's just refused to tell me anything:
"Oh Dear," Molly said, of course she realized all of those things had happened, but already knowing the details was hard to see how hard it would have been on Bill … on all of them when they heard that the trio was at Bill's … not being told anything. Still, she knew she would just be so relieved that the three of them were okay … that she knew for only a little while that they were safe.
Mentions Fleur made an impatient noise:
"Obviously she doesn't think that's a good enough excuse," Fred pointed out.
"Just like you wouldn't Mum," George added.
"And she would be right," Molly finished firmly.
Harry thinks Horcruses or Hallow and then says Griphook:
Dumbledore smiled, Harry had made the right decision, and he knew how hard this decision really was to make … how hard it was to give up the Hallows.
"I guess that means I made the right choice," Harry said looking at his headmaster, who smiled back at him.
Mentions Ron and Hermione both moved into the light, looking oddly relieved:
Harry rolled his eyes, "did you honestly think I wouldn't want you guys to come with me."
"Er … it seems like it," Ron said chuckling. "Don't know what we were thinking."
"You were just acting so … different …" Hermione said.
"Oh, come off it, Potter can't tie his shoelaces without you two bickering over the right way to do it," Draco snorted.
Fred and George had to cover their mouths to try and hide their laughter at that comment.
"I hate to admit it, but he has a point," Ginny said looking just as reluctantly amused at the twins were.
Harry asks Hermione how are you, you were amazing, coming up with that story:
"You really were Hermione," Remus said, he didn't want to bring this up himself, not wanting to make anyone dwell on this fact, but he had been really impressed by this.
"I must agree," McGonagall said. "I know how hard it is to think rationally when …" she paused and then starting again at a different point. "It is impressive that you had the presence of mind to say this."
"Er … thanks," Hermione said pleased and sad all at the same time.
After Harry asks how are your legs the Griphook painful, but mending:
Harry sighed, he didn't like that he was hurting the goblin more but forcing him to talk to him, now.
Mentions the goblin still clutched the sword and wore a strange look, half truculent, half intrigued:
"You've impressed him Harry," Bill noted a little surprised and then he smiled, "not that this is really surprising now that I think of it..."
After Harry says you probably don't remember and Griphook, I showed you to your vault, even amongst goblins, you are very famous:
"Just what you wanted to hear, ah Harry," Fred chuckled.
"I still think it's good that you started the conversation off like this," Bill said, "Griphook, would be farther impressed that you had remembered him … most wizards would not have done so."
Mentions Harry's scar was still prickling and he wanted to get through this interview quickly, but afraid of making a false move:
"Well, rushing would definitely be a false move," Remus said.
"He would be offended if he thought that you didn't think he was important," Bill added, "especially after you have forced him to talk to you tonight."
Griphook says you are an unusual wizard, Harry Potter:
"I couldn't have said that better myself," Ron chuckled.
"Shut up," Harry grumbled.
"It's not bad being unusual Harry," Tonks said. "I rather enjoy it a lot myself."
"She has a point," Sirius agreed.
"Now doesn't that just make you want to be unusual," Fred said looking amused. "You can be just like them!"
Harry chuckled as Sirius and Tonks glared at Fred.
Griphook says you dug the grave and Harry says so, thinking he was being sneered at for acting like a Muggle:
"He's not sneering at you," Bill said. "He's just shocked that you … that any wizard would think of doing something like that … for an elf."
Harry says impatiently well I take it you're not sorry:
Several people chuckled weakly at him.
"The guy is trying to be grateful to you … you don't have to be so defensive," Ginny laughed.
Harry says I need to break into a Gringotts vault:
"What?!" Hermione exclaimed.
"I knew it!" several other people said.
"What?" Harry said to them.
"I'm sure you'll see Harry," Fred said. "Though it is a little disappointing that you didn't figure this out yourself … it's nice to know that you'll be smarter in the future."
Harry scowled at him as Severus, who was smirking at Harry, continued to read.
Mentions Ron and Hermione were staring at Harry as if he had gone mad:
"I don't blame you … who in their right mind would think about breaking into Gringotts," Charlie said.
"I wonder if they'll actually pull it off," George mumbled. "Like to make a wager Fred?"
"Sure, I bet that they do it," Fred said.
"Hm … that's what I was going to say," George frowned.
"YOU WILL NOT BET ON THIS!" Molly shouted at them suddenly, causing everyone to jump.
"Well obviously not Mum, we're both in agreement … how could we possibly make a bet," Fred said rather bravely, seeing as Molly was glaring at him fiercely.
Severus started reading again, not particularly wanting to hear Molly screaming again.
Griphook says break into a Gringotts vault, it is impossible:
"Maybe not if you have a goblin working with you, telling you all the secret to their defenses," Charlie said.
"I still wouldn't want to try it," Bill said shaking his head, knowing a good number of those defenses himself.
This just caused Molly to moan miserably.
Griphook says the vault in question was empty at the time, its protection was minimal:
"That is true … you know what this means if you actually accomplish this?" George asked.
"Er … what?" a few people answered.
"That you'll do something even old Voldy wasn't able to do despite his best effort, steal something from Gringotts," George answered with a smile.
Harry says the vault we need to get into protection will be pretty powerful, it belongs to the Lestranges:
"Oh," Ron and Harry said, understanding dawning on them.
"That's what I was starting to think," Hermione said.
"You guys already knew this?" Ron said to the rest of the people in the room.
"Yeah …we sort of talked about this and why Bellatrix seemed so crazed about her vault," Remus said.
"Do you think it's true … that a Horcrux would be in there," Harry questioned.
"I do," Dumbledore said.
Harry says thief, you have been warned, beware, yeah, I know, I remember:
Harry shuddered as he remembered reading that poem at Gringotts … in seem incredible that he would actually go there to steal something.
Harry says but I'm not trying to get treasure, I'm not trying to take anything for personal gain, can you believe that:
"No … he's just stealing something to save the world!" Fred said dramatically.
"Merlin Harry, you even manage to be noble when you're acting like a thief," George added.
"It's a gift," Harry actually chuckled.
Griphook says if there was a wizard of whom I would believe that it would be you Harry Potter:
Bill looked a little shocked about this, he thought that Harry might have a chance to get Griphook's help, but he didn't think that he would have make this much progress so quickly. Harry must really have impressed him.
Harry says wand-carriers, and the phrase fell oddly upon his ears:
"You really never did listen to History of Magic," Hermione muttered to herself shaking her head, it was mentioned at least a hundred times in that class over the years.
Ron says well, goblins wont' share any of their magic either, goblins know how to work metal in a way wizards have never:
"Seriously Ron, do you think it's going to help get Griphook to agree to help you by arguing about this," Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Well at least I was telling him that goblins were better than wizards at something," Ron grumbled defensively.
"True … it could have been worse I suppose," Bill sighed.
Hermione says we protest, and I'm hunted quite as much as any goblin or elf, I'm a Mudblood:
"Hermione!" Ron said as several people gasped at that. "Don't call yourself that …."
Draco at first smirked at this, hearing her admit the truth, but it didn't settle right with him for some reason.
"Miss Granger you are one of the brightest witches I've ever taught," McGonagall said. "It does not matter where you have gotten your magic from, so I don't want to hear this from you, do I make myself clear."
"Yes, Professor McGonagall," Hermione said, looking pleased that her favorite professor thought so highly of her. "But I think I'm trying to make a point here … er … much the same as the point you have just said I think."
Ron says don't call yourself that and Hermione says why shouldn't I, Mudblood, and proud of it:
Severus sighed, "Lily would have said the same thing."
Sirius and Remus looked at him oddly (along with everyone else in the room) before they actually smiled.
"She probably would have," Remus chuckled. "She would be proud of where she came from."
"And wouldn't care who knew it," Sirius added with a sad smile.
Draco was thinking about this, so this must have been why he was feeling weird, because Granger had somehow twisted the word around to be something to be proud of. Yes, that must have been it … but then why did he still feel that this didn't settle right with him.
Mentions that Hermione pulled aside the neck of her gown to reveal the thin cut Bellatrix had made, scarlet against her throat:
Several people shivered at that.
"Why didn't you heal that?" Harry questioned, looking mopey again.
"I wouldn't put it past Bellatrix to curse the knife so you couldn't heal the wounds that it inflects," Severus said darkly. "That it would have to heal naturally."
"Bitch," Ron muttered.
"Ronald!" Molly reprimanded. "I don't want to hear that language from you."
"But it's true," Ron looked at her defiantly, he wasn't going to back down on this one.
"I wasn't arguing with you, but that doesn't mean I want to hear that from you," Molly said.
Hermione says did you know that it was Harry who set Dobby free, did you know that we've wanted elves to be freed for years:
"Er … Hermione you know you're the only one that wanted that right?" Ron said to her uncomfortably.
"Am I still the only one that wants that?" Hermione questioned.
"Er … well … I er … I agree that something has to be done …" Ron said even more uncomfortable. "But I'm not sure freeing them would be good for them."
"Hmph …" Hermione huffed.
"Look … now's not really the time to talk about elves' rights," Harry said. "I'm sure you two can argue about this plenty later."
"I'm sure we will," Hermione mumbled but motioned for Severus to start reading.
Mentions the goblin looked at Hermione was the same curiosity he had shown Harry:
"And I'm ignored like always," Ron said, but he didn't seem to mind so much.
"Well maybe if you didn't insult the goblin, he would have looked at you curiously too," Ginny said.
Harry ask but the fake sword isn't the only thing in that vault, perhaps you've seen other things in there:
"Not a good question," Bill shook his head, it would go against the goblin's pride to tell Harry something like this and remind him that he would be betraying his people if her were to help Harry.
Griphook says so young to be fighting so many:
Molly nodded her head in agreement with that, they were too young to be fighting like this … to have to go through the torture (literally torture in the last chapter, but she tried not to dwell on that thought).
Mentions that Harry took the sword from beside the goblin, he didn't protest, but Harry saw resentment in the goblin's eyes:
Bill sighed at this.
"Was I right?" Harry questioned.
"Yes," Bill said. "And I think how you deal with the sword will be the key in securing his help."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked, looking confused by this time.
"I'm not sure yet, but I know it will be important," Bill said.
Ron says little git, he's enjoying keeping us hanging:
"He might," Bill's lips twitched at the thought. "But I bet he is also thinking about what he could ask of you in return for his service."
Harry says Bellatrix was terrified when she thought we'd been in there, ending with something she was petrified You-Know-Who would find out about:
"Did she really have to question you about it... wouldn't it have been better if she just summoned Voldemort there sooner?" Tonks asked.
"Considering what has happened, yes, it probably would have been better for her, if she had summoned him," Dumbledore said. "However, Voldemort's wrath would have been unbearable if Harry and the others had already stolen the Horcrux from her vault and she had no answers for him."
Harry says I think he would have envy anyone who had a key to a Gringotts vault, see it as a symbol of belonging to the Wizarding world:
Dumbledore smiled at Harry's reasoning. "You have an excellent point Harry; I should have thought of that."
"Well … er … I wouldn't have thought of this without hearing what Bellatrix said," Harry said, feeling very uncomfortable with Dumbledore praise … even more so than he usually does.
Harry says don't forget, he trusted Bellatrix and her husband:
"I still can't believe that anyone would want to marry that mad hag," Sirius said making a face.
"I've heard that he's rather mad himself," Tonks said. "At least that's what Mum always says."
Harry says the safest place in the world for anything you want to hide, Hagrid told me, except for Hogwarts:
"That's settles it, there's a Horcrux at Hogwarts too," Fred said. "Would you agree to that Bill?"
"You don't know that," Bill rolled his eyes, but was now reminded of the bet he had made against the twins that there would be a Horcrux in both Gringotts and Hogwarts … things weren't looking so good for him now.
Ron says you really understand him:
"Argh … you just had to go and say that," Harry groaned, not wanting to understand any bit of him.
"I know it's not pleasant Harry, but as you can see, it is very useful that you do have some understanding of how Voldemort thinks," Dumbledore said sadly.
Mentions Ron and Hermione looked bewildered but very impressed:
"Well, what do you expect … for the months leading up to this time you've been acting clueless and obsess," Severus said. "It must have been quite unexpected that you suddenly understand so much … seemed to know what you have to do so completely."
"Er … was he taunting Harry or not," Fred 'whispered' to George.
"I don't know … he doesn't look like he was taunting him," George 'whispered' back.
"I think that old Sevy might actually be changing his opinion of Harry," Tonks added, not bothering with the fake whispered and Severus glared at the three of them.
Harry pulled out the two wands he got and asks can you identify these:
"You're kind right …" Fred said.
"I don't think Ollivander has ever failed to identify a wand …" George added.
"He even knew the core of mine wand and he didn't even make it," Fleur added.
"I think I was asking if he could tell me who's they were and things like that," Harry grumbled.
Ollivander says Hawthorn and unicorn hair:
Draco groaned and glared at Harry.
"I think he recognizes that wand," George chuckled.
Harry repeated was, isn't it still his wand:
Draco eyes widen at that … did he truly lose his wand when Potter took it.
Ollivander says perhaps not, if you too it, then it may be yours:
"Just because you can't keep your wand safe Potter, that doesn't mean that you can take mine!" Draco growled at Harry.
Ollivander says depends upon the wan itself, in general, however, where a wand has been won, its allegiance will change:
"You know for something that you have to form a bond with, it seems remarkably easy for its allegiance to change," Charlie pointed out.
Harry says you talk about wands like they're got feelings:
"Oh, I get it now, the wands feelings must have been hurt when you lose them and doesn't mind working for a new master," Charlie chuckled this time.
"Idiot," Tonks said to her friend. "You just had to ruin the only intelligent thing you've said since we've got here."
"Well, you know how I feel about sounding intelligent," Charlie shrugged. "That's for Bill and Perce to do."
Ollivander says an initial attraction and then mutual quest for experience, the wand learning from the wizard, the wizard from the wand:
"Fascinating," Hermione said.
"I guess we all know what Hermione's going to be looking up in the library next," Ron smirked at her as she grimaced, and then chuckled.
"You're probably right."
Ron says so, I should use this one, handing Wormtail's wand to Ollivander:
Sirius huffed at that.
"They need a wand Sirius," Remus said. "It doesn't matter who own it before."
"Argh... that means I'm going to have to use Bellatrix!" Hermione groaned.
Ollivander swallowed necessary, no I should not say that it is necessary to kill:
"It's never necessary to kill," Molly said.
"I think it's necessary that someone kills Voldemort," Sirius countered and then added for good measure, "and the world would be better off without Bellatrix in it too."
Harry paled at that; knowing that he was the one that was going to have to face Voldemort and he didn't see how he was supposed to actually kill him.
Harry says legends about a wand that have been passed from hand to hand by murder, Ollivander turned pale:
"I would think so … he knows you're asking him about the wand that he told Voldemort about," Remus said reasonably … he wondered what that had to do with Harry's desires to thwart Voldemort … and where Voldemort was going now … looked slyly at Dumbledore, wondering if it had anything to do with him.
Ollivander says I how, how do you know this:
"I can see into Voldemort's mind," Fred answered in a grave tone that sounded remarkably like Harry.
Ollivander says he tortured me, you must understand, I had no choice but to tell him what I knew:
"No choice, hmph!" Molly huffed.
"He was tortured for over a year … anyone's will would break after that," Dumbledore said sadly.
Ollivander says the Dark Lord had been happy with the wand until he discovered the twin cores, now he seeks a more powerful wand to conquer yours:
"So basically, all you've done by defending yourself against Voldemort is make him starve to become stronger … gee thanks for that," Fred said.
Harry says he'll know soon, if he doesn't already, that mine's broken beyond repair:
"How could he know that?" several people asked.
"Because the Malfoys has the wand that Potter has been using," Severus groaned, he didn't even think about that, but Potter was right of course.
"That sucks … I bet old Voldy would still have been a little afraid of facing the wand that had bested him twice," Ginny sighed.
Harry explains and Hermione loses the little color she had regained:
"Did you really have to say that Harry?" Ron glared at his friend.
"I'm sorry... I was just trying to make my point," Harry sighed.
Ron says reproachful let's not worry about that now:
"Ah Ron, ever the knight in shiny armor, ah Mione," George teased and Ron turn bright red.
"I couldn't agree with you more there, George," Hermione said beaming up at Ron, who looked even redder than before, but now had a goofy grin on his face.
Hermione says you don't think it can be a fairy tale or a myth:
"Get over it already Granger … the wand is real!" Draco rolled his eyes. "Is it really that hard for you to grasped."
"I doubt it's the wand that I'm having trouble believing is real," Hermione said coldly.
Harry says never mind how I know it, as he close his eyes to a vision of the main street in Hogsmeade:
"He's going to Hogwarts?" Remus questioned, looking shrewdly at Dumbledore. He wasn't the only one, several people have been cultivating a theory about where this wand might be. "You were the one that defeated Grindlewald."
"And you easily could have known what wand he might have had," Severus added.
"And you're one of the few people that could possibly possess the wand and not brag about it," McGonagall added.
"All excellent points," Dumbledore said, looking amused, "now Severus, would you continue reading."
Severus rolled his eyes, but he took this to mean that they were correct in believe that Dumbledore had this wand, so he did what he was told.
"Wait … do …?" Sirius started to question, but Severus didn't stop reading.
Ollivander says that Gregorovitch was studying and duplicating the qualities of the Elder Wand:
"Did it work?" Remus asked.
"His wands are arguably the best that have existed, though I must say I still preferred Ollivander's," Dumbledore answered.
"Or the actual Elder wand," Sirius said, but Dumbledore only smiled at that comment.
After Harry asks if he knows about the Deathly Hallows and Ollivander says the what:
"Obviously nothing," Sirius chuckled.
"Few people know of the Deathly Hallows," Dumbledore said. "Though most, if not all, wandmakers know about the Elder wand."
After Ollivander says he was torturing me and Harry says I do, I really do:
Everyone was now grimacing at Harry … they had just heard about Hermione being torture but that was something that hasn't, and hopefully will never, happen. Harry's torture has happened already … and there is nothing they could do to change that.
Harry says if Fregorovitch was stupid enough to spread the rumor, it can't have been that difficult:
"No … it really wasn't," Dumbledore sighed, wishing the wandmaker hadn't said this. But then again it was the Elder Wand, and most people truly couldn't resist bragging about it.
Harry says when Dumbledore knew he was the only one who could stop him, he dueled Grindelwald and beat him, and he took the Elder Wand:
"Precisely Harry," Dumbledore said.
"Hmph, so you only answer when Harry gets it right," Sirius pouted.
"Wow … when you say it like that it really sounds incredible," Arthur said. "How did you defeat Grindelwald if he had that wand?"
"It was not easy," Dumbledore said his eyes growing grave. "I felt as if he didn't want to fight me any more than I did him … I know he wasn't willing to kill me …" he trailed off there, remembering that fight was always painful. McGonagall put a hand silently on his shoulder and Severus started reading to break the uncomfortable silence.
Ron says but then, let's go, Harry, get it before he does:
"NO! Are you crazy?!" Molly said. "There is no way that you could go to Hogwarts with the way things are now! And there is no way that you should be racing You-Know-Who to anything, I don't care how powerful this wand is supposed to be!"
"Especially now when there are still Horcruxes that you need to destroy," Remus added, "and you wouldn't even have a chance of defeating him."
"But it's the Elder Wand!" Ron said. "Can you imagine what Voldemort would do with the Elder Wand!"
Several people shivered at the thought, but Harry chuckled and said, "do you realized that you just called him Voldemort, mate."
"What … oh I guess I did," Ron said looking surprised.
"I know it is hard to believe, but Harry was right not to go after the Elder Wand, Mr. Weasley, I am sure of that," Dumbledore said smiling.
Ron says the unbeatable wand, Harry:
"Give it a rest already Ron," Fred rolled his eyes.
"That's easier said than done … I've been dreaming about getting a hold of the elder wand for years," Ron sighed. "It would be so cool to have …."
"I suppose Dumbledore should watch his back now, because you're going to want to steal it from him," Fred chuckled, but Dumbledore looked slightly uncomfortable about what was said. He didn't think that anyone in this room would actually want to steal the wand from him, but he knew how tempting the wand could be.
Mentions it would not do for Snape, or indeed anyone else, to see where he was going:
"Follow him Snape … that would really make him mad," Sirius encouraged.
"And face his wrath, I think not," Severus said shaking his head.
"Oh … you're only making me wish you followed him more now," Sirius chuckled.
Mentions the white marble tomb, an unnecessary blot on the familiar landscape:
"Hmph," McGonagall huffed, it wasn't unnecessary, it was were Dumbledore belonged after everything he had done for this school.
Mentions how fitting that this would be its last great act:
"This guy is so full of himself," Fred said. "I really hate seeing things through his perspective."
"Tell me about it," Harry said groaning, and trying not to think of his latest vision … of attacking Arthur ….
Mentions Dumbledore's hands were folded upon his chest and clutched beneath them:
There was a slight waver in Severus's voice as he read this, he didn't like anyone to know this, but it was extremely hard for him to read about Dumbledore being like this.
Mentions had he thought that the Dark Lord would be scared to violate his tomb:
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow at that question. He knew that Voldemort of course would care little for the respect one should have for the dead, but he knew that death itself did scare Voldemort.
Mentions that Voldemort took the wand ready to serve a new master at last:
"That's the end of the chapter," Severus said.
"And you're sure it's okay that he has the wand," Remus asked, looking pale at the thought.
"Yes," Dumbledore said simply, knowing the wand would not work for Voldemort differently than a normal wound would. "So, who would like to read this chapter."
"I would," Tonks said, and Severus handed the book to her.